84 TRAVELS TO THE EAST. 
From Cairo to the burial Places of the 
Mummies. 
I T was now a convenient time to vifit the burial 
places of the ancient Egyptians, where enr 
balmed bodies are yet to be found, under the name 
of Mummies, as the journey might be made in 
boats acrofs the country, which wa 3 now under 
water. I fet out on the 16th, accompanied by Mr- 
Roboly, a French interpreter in Alexandria, two 
Taniffaries, and two French merchants. We came 
to Old Cairo towards evening, and lodged with lonw 
Syrian merchants from Damafcus. Whilft we waited 
for fupper, we fent for one of this country s mull- 
eians, who was a Chriftian Coptite, to amu e 
us with his mulic. His inftrument was common ij 
Egypt, and in many other places of the Ealt, being 
without doubt of great antiquity, and probably re- 
f enabled David’s harp. The Chriftian Coptite* 
and even the Franks, who trade here, call it Dai' 
terium. h is in the form of an oblique triangle, 
large as to lay comrapdioufly on the knees \vhe 
they play on it. It has two bottoms, two inch* 
from each other, with about twenty catguts of 
ferent fizes. Our mufician, whilft lie was playing' 
fang fome Arabian fongs on Providence, a content c^ 
mind, &c. which afforded an agreeable entertain' 
ment. It was perhaps with this limple, but mg 
nious, inftrument, that David’s Pfalms were u . 
